I have loved this season of Advent with you- especially the reflections from people in our congregation that have been given at each service. We have asked people to share about a place in the world or in their life where they desire for God to stir up His power and with great might come among us. Our friends have been vulnerable, funny, transparent, and hopeful. I, personally, have been encouraged to keep praying and to keep asking for our Mighty One to come– to me, to rescue me, to quiet me with His love. Thank you to all of our Advent sharers.
Our new Daily Prayer Guide has given us readings in Luke all month. My favorite part has been the characters in Luke 18:1-30. They are a wild crew:
There is a judge who doesn’t care about people and he collides with a widow who defines the words ‘insistent’ and ‘persistent’ in her requests for him to do something. Spoiler- he does.
There is a successful religious guy who knows he is better than everyone else because of what he has done and what he doesn’t do. He tells God how great he is. He gets contrasted with a guy who has made a lot of mistakes, deceived a lot of people, and used others for his own gain. He tells God how much mercy he needs. Spoiler alert: Jesus says the second guy gets it. The first doesn’t.
There are kids- like our Carol Sing this past Sunday night which had kids marveling and singing and dancing all over the sanctuary- Jesus says we have to receive Him and His Kingdom like kids: without pretense, without a resume, without guile, with gratitude, with joy, with wonder. Spoiler alert: it’s harder than you think.
There is this rich, religious person who has done all the right things and has all the things to show off their success. This person wants to know that they are ‘in’, that they are absolutely going to inherit eternal life. So this person rattles off a list of ‘done thats’ and this person is expecting an ‘of course you are in‘ from Jesus, maybe even a ‘thank you for doing all the things’ from Jesus. Instead, Jesus says to this person, there is one thing you haven’t done… get rid of the stuff that you love more than you love me. Punt it. Give it away. Do whatever it takes so that you can love me the most. Spoiler alert: this person says, ‘Nah. Hard pass. No thanks.’ Then(!) Jesus says, “well, that person is not going to be a part of the Kingdom of God.” Then(!!!) the disciples are shocked. “What? That person had everything…” (except loving Jesus most, of course). And Jesus mic drops: “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
For God is a Mighty One… who hears insistent widows, who changes the minds of unjust judges, who is unpersuaded by religious performance, who is merciful towards those who need mercy, who welcomes kids and those who approach Him with child-like-open-hands, who loves you, so you can love Him, more than anything.
He is Mighty. He is in our midst. He delights in you. He will be quiet over you in love.
This has been an extraordinary Advent.
Keep reading for info about Christmas Eve and a new thing we are doing in January before small groups start.
This is my last letter to you in 2024. Thank you for a remarkable year. Good things grow here.
See you on Sunday, David
A Christmas Eve Liturgy of Lessons, Carols, and Eucharist at 3:00, 5:00, and 8:00
Just a few, brief reminders about Dec 24! – First, our services at 3:00 and 5:00 will be the same. We know that households have different afternoon schedules so we wanted to provide times that could work with whatever you are needing! – The 3:00pm is usually our most full service. The 8:00pm is the most quiet. – Plan to arrive early for each service. We will not have overflow space. When our sanctuary hits 400 people, we will kindly ask you to come back for the next service. – It takes a number of volunteers to make Christmas Eve happen. We still have opportunities for you to serve. Would you consider doing so? Please log in to our Planning Center and let us know what you can do! You can also reach out to Nathan if you have questions about volunteering. Thank you. – Please park in the lot that we use at the corner of N. Quincy and N. 15th Streets. You are free to use every space that is in the garage- the covered parking is open as well. We will be running 2 shuttles from the lot at the 3:00 and 5:00 services. – We are so excited to see you, your neighbors, your friends, and your family members. Bring them all! We have good news of GREAT JOY!
Something New!
Restoration’s staff got together and cooked up a new idea so that we can learn and be together. On January 15, 2025 we are going to offer 9-10 different classes in our building, at the same time. They will be taught by members of our congregation on a WIDE variety of topics. For example, one person, who is an expert on current East Asia politics, will give an update on what is happening in that part of the world and facilitate Q+A. Another person will introduce Ignatian Spiritual Practices. Another will offer a hands-on workshop about prayer and candle-making. This is just a sample of the classes that will be offered. We will publish a full list after the first of the year.
Here’s what to expect: on January 15, we will gather at 7pm. Grab a cookie from the lower narthex and find your classroom. The classes will start at 7:15. There will be about 10 people in each class and a class will be ‘open until the chairs are filled’. So come early to get the class you want! And try something you weren’t expecting if the one you wanted fills up! The classes will last an hour and include time for Q+A. We will close our time together with compline in the sanctuary.
It’s a great chance for us to be together, to learn something new, to meet new people, and to worship with our beautiful Anglican prayer office. I hope you will come.
Would you be able to provide a dozen cookies for your fellow students and instructors? Let us know, here. Thanks!
